Suspicious package evacuates Commons

A large backpack placed in a suspicious manner in a restroom at The Commons resulted in the facility being evacuated for more than three hours.

The Columbus Police Department and its bomb squad unit, plus a bomb squad from Johnson County, were called in to investigate the backpack shortly after noon Friday at the downtown facility, which contains a playground, restaurants and meeting rooms.

Nothing harmful was found in the backpack, investigators said.

Washington Street between Third and Fourth streets in downtown Columbus was closed during the investigation.

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Investigators sent a robot into The Commons as part of the investigation, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.

Police later found the individual who left the backpack and officers do not believe his actions were a criminal act, Harris said.

Police reopened The Commons and Washington Street at 3:45 p.m., once police vehicles left the area.